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TRANSCRIPT: REPORTER: "Mr. Whitelaw, who's taking over responsibility for northern Ireland, today visited the Province, saw the Governor, Lord Grey at his residence, and had talks with security and civil service chiefs."

SEQ. 2: WHITELAW: "I am here to serve them to the best of my ability. I hope that those who are talking like that will not go to extreme actions and I do not believe they will do their cause -- and what I believe is far more important the cause -- and what I believe is far more important the cause of anyone who lives in Northern Ireland -- any good thereby."

Initials VS/2.28 VS/2.35

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Mr. William Whitelaw, the senior British minister who has been given the ask of running Northern Ireland following the British government's decision to impose direct rule there, made his first official visit to the capital. Belfast, on Saturday (March 25). His new post is Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

In Belfast on Monday, he met the Governor, Lord Grey, and held talks with security officials and senior civil servants in preparation for taking over responsibility from the suspended Northern Ireland Parliament. Mr. Whitelaw, aged 53, is the leader of the British House of Commons.

At a press conference later in the day, he commented on threats o violence from sections of the community in Northern Ireland which had demonstrated disapproval of direct rule from London.

SYNOPSIS: Mr. William Whitelaw, the British Minister taking over responsibility for Northern Ireland, visited the province and is Governor, Lord Grey, on Saturday. Later Newsmen asked him about threats of violence....